What Is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy – and What Should Athletes Know? Dr. Steven Flanagan, BrainLine

Multimedia

• 
  "Don't even try to fool me because I'm watching you!" So says Jay Driscoll, ATC / CSCS, athletic director at Washington, DC’s St. Albans School, to his student athletes, alluding to the fact that some athletes cover up a mild brain injury so as to stay in the game. With a no-nonsense attitude and a keen sense of humor, Jay talks to BrainLine about his program on injury prevention, care, and rehabilitation services as well as how he helps his athletes meet and exceed demands by enhancing their physical fitness, performance, and health.
  
  Transcript of this video.
• Working the Sidelines

More and more studies are being conducted about contact sports and progressive brain injury. What is chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and what should we be doing to protect young athletes?

For years, we have known about a type of neurodegenerative disease, which may affect amateur and professional boxers, known as dementia pugilistica. Symptoms and signs of dementia pugilistica can develop progressively over a long period of time. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, may be similar and may be seen in more and more athletes who play contact sports like football or ice hockey. How much can the brain take, after all? It makes sense that a football player who is hit time and time again and who suffers multiple concussions would develop some sort of neurological trauma. The research that is being done on CTE is important, but it needs to be followed up with more research.

I think the increased awareness about traumatic brain injury is very helpful as is the awareness that a person doesn’t have to lose consciousness to sustain a concussion. This awareness will help everyone — from young athletes and coaches to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Everyone, including healthcare professionals at all levels, needs to know that TBI is not necessarily a benign event and sometimes symptoms do not go away.

Click here to go to About Ask the Expert.

Steven Flanagan, MD, Dr. Flanagan is professor and chairman of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, and the medical director of the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Langone Medical Center. He was formerly the vice chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the medical director of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program. Dr. Flanagan has served on medical advisory boards of many national and international committees and has presented at scientific meetings both nationally and internationally, most notably on topics pertaining to brain injury rehabilitation. He has authored numerous chapters and publications and has participated in both federally and industry sponsored research, funded by such organization as the National Institute on Aging.

The contents of Brainline (the “Web Site”), such as text, graphics, images, information obtained from the Web Site’s licensors and/or consultants, and other material contained on the Web Site (collectively, the “Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for medical, legal, or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Specifically, with regards to medical issues, always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Web Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. The Web Site does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Web Site. Reliance on any information provided by the Web Site or by employees, volunteers or contractors or others associated with the Web Site and/or other visitors to the Web Site is solely at your own risk.

 Comments [5]